Since I’ve been writing my blogs, I have striven to bring to you subject matter typically of a controversial nature...that is, topics that are simply not or rarely taught in church. I recently came across this very interesting article written by John Lynn for thelivingtruthfellowship.org. From what I can see, there is no need or request for permission to reprint, so the following is the article in its entirety. You may agree or disagree with some or all of the writer’s conclusions. As with all my blogs, there is no judgment placed upon you for that. God knows, as we all should know, each of us learns the pearls of the Truth (and discernment of false truths) at our own pace and level on which the Spirit teaches us and we allow Him to teach us.

The article:To some Christians (though not enough), it sounds too hideous to say something like "God killed your son," when a child is run over by a bus. So they euphemistically say that God "allowed" the child to be run over by a bus. But can a logical mind make any distinction between the two? Ours do not and we doubt if yours does either. If God could have stopped it, but instead allowed it, He necessarily shares the responsibility for the tragedy.The Word of God also says that Satan is the one who now holds the power of death, that is, he is the ultimate cause of death. This is either directly via evil spirit intervention, such as a spirit of murder causing one person to murder another, or indirectly via one of the countless diseases he has introduced into the world.“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil...” Hebrews 2:14

Suppose you are sitting in a restaurant visiting with two friends, Bill and Joe. Bill sees a guy with a lead pipe in his hand sneaking up behind you. He turns to Joe and asks, "How's your family?" When you wake up, don't you think you will blame Bill almost as much as you blame the guy who hit you with the pipe? Who can truly love a God who causes suffering, or one who could stop it, but just decides to "allow" it to happen?In the beginning, as we have stated, God decided to "allow" or "permit" the possibility of evil in order to make possible an unforced response of genuine goodness and love. If something contrary to His will happens, it is because God cannot at that moment stop it without going against His own nature. How could that be? We believe there are three very good reasons. First, because although He is the most powerful One in the war, His righteous nature requires Him to act justly toward His formidable foe, the devil. Second, He cannot usurp anyone's personal freedom of will. Third, His justice requires Him to allow people to experience the consequences of disobedience.

To say that God cannot always stop evil flies in the face of many Christian people's fatalistic concept of "the sovereignty of God," a phrase, by the way, not found in Scripture. To most Christians, this means that God is ruling over everything that happens and is thus responsible for it all. Most Christians have also been taught that God is "omnipotent," which according to Webster's actually means "all powerful." Obviously, God does not have all power because Satan also has plenty. We believe that most Christians use the term "omnipotent" to mean that God has the most power and therefore can do whatever He wants. Although we certainly believe that God is the most powerful, we do not believe He can always do whatever He wants. As we have previously stated, He has limited Himself in His Word as to what He will and will not do.

​Despite how much we may love to sing the verses of "Joy To The World" at Christmas time, there are a number of Scripture verses that indicate that the world is not yet subject to the rule of the Lord.

For example:*Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.*For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.*The last enemy to be destroyed is death.1 Corinthians 15:24-26

[My note: I must clarify these difficult verses in order to understand the continuation of this author’s points: “Then the end will come when He (Christ) hands over the kingdomship to God the Father after He (Christ) has destroyed all dominion, authority and power (of evil). For He (Christ) must reign until He (Christ) has put all His (Christ’s) enemies under His (Christ’s ) feet. The last enemy to be destroyed (by Christ) is death” However, after all this occurs (when “the end shall come”) we read verse 28, “When all things are subjected to him (Christ), then the Son (Christ) Himself will also be subjected to Him (God the Father), who put all things in subjection under Him (Christ), that God may be all in all (a unity that was in the beginning and that we cannot comprehend with our present logic).”]

It is obvious from the above verses that there is some "dominion," some "authority," and some "power" that is not yet subject to the Lord. Furthermore, it is obvious that death is an enemy of God not a tool He uses, and that it is not yet destroyed. Another pertinent verse is in Hebrews Chapter 10.

*But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.*Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.Hebrews 10:12,13

Since Christ is now waiting for his enemies to become his footstool, it is obvious that at this time they are not under his subjection. But God is the most powerful and most wise one in the fight and that means that human history as a whole will be resolved according to His will. The "whole" will be made up of the parts of human history—individuals—who chose to believe God's Word and do His will.

In regard to God's eventual victory, consider the analogy of a chess match between a World Chess Champion and the president of a high school chess club. Although the latter might capture a few of his opponent's pieces and perhaps, to an untrained eye, even appear to gain the upper hand at some point, the outcome is never in doubt. No matter what the lesser player may do by the freedom of his will, the master player always has a superior strategy that will result in ultimate victory. Likewise, God need not stoop to manipulating His opponent in order to achieve His goals.

Hearing this truth may at first cause some Christians great consternation and even feelings of helplessness. Perhaps this is because they have actually trusted more in fatalistic pre-determinism than in the love, power, ability, and willingness of God to keep His promises regarding the present and the future. But wait a minute—think about the only alternatives:

(a) There is no God, your great-grandfather was a lizard and life is a "crapshoot." Good luck!(b) You are God. Good luck!(c) There is a God Who determines everything that happens. He is able and willing to both help you and hurt you, and there are no guarantees which He will do, or when He will do it. Good luck!(d) There is a God who once made a Paradise for man and Who has guaranteed for those who believe His Word that it will one day again be so. In the meantime, He and His Son are far more powerful than their (and your) enemy and they are doing their absolute best for you each day. You have God's Word on it. You don't need "luck."

Which sounds best to you? When properly understood, this truth will for you result in greater love for God, greater hatred for the devil, and greater desire to obey God's Word.